Boy, never expected that question to go downhill, but thanks for the recommendations. Ordered a Redding bushing neck sizer and a body die. I’ve used Lee collet neck sizers on a few cartridges with good results....does a standard .223 collet die work with the AI?
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Yes in spades: 223 AI, 22/250 AI, 243 AI, 260 AI, 7/08 AI, 280 AI
I have Bushing dies in these calibers also.
As I said, Lee offers sizing mandrels in .001 graduations, but Granger has them in .005 increments. Remember that Granger's do not have a decapping pin on them, and they need a tiny O ring to hole them in, or just take the mandrel in and out of the cases when sizing them in 223 AI.
The case neck run out using Lee collet sizers is fantastic, which translates to .003 and below with the vast majority being less than .002.
AI's run some pressure to find the best accuracy, as a general rule with speed and accuracy that will put a grin on your face. I like to de- prime in a separate operation to check for loose primer pockets. Some of the brass that I shoot has 50+ firings on it, IMI in the 223,Old gold box Lapua in others....stuff is hard to kill.
For something so inexpensive, the Lee Collet sizer works extremely well. Other than custom dies such as Whidden or Harrells, Redding comp neck sizer are perhaps the best of the bushing neck sizers, and I hunt constantly for them in calibers that I shoot. If you can keep the run out at or below .002, you are good to go until you get into competitive shooting. Bushing sizers often do not give good run out, it takes a little tinkering, bushing size with an expander may cure some ills or create some..trial and error...don't assume anything. More advanced reloading is not necessary for hunters and steel bangers.
I have a friend that tests bullets for Berger and he is a 1000 yd benchrest shooter. This guy has found the best run out using Forster dies that the company has reamed the neck out to the dia that he wishes, which costs a total of $12 for the reaming...fantastic customer service by Forster!
I have been using bushing dies for so long that it is hard for me to sell them, have a small fortune invest in them.
If you like using bushings, the Redding S dies can also be used in the AI calibers, and similar calibers of approximate length, may take a tiny cut off the bottom of the die in the lathe to get the sizing length of the neck that you like. In S dies, the case is not supported as the case goes into the die, so alignment can suffer.
For a guy on a bare bones budget, a set of Redding standard dies with the addition of the Lee Collet sizer is the way to go. Clean your necks after firing, and I like using this tool with black graphite to lube the neck for an expander ball to go through:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/301357/forster-original-case-neck-lubricatorFor short range hog shooting, the 55 and 62g Speer gold dots are killing hogs like they are shot with a 30/06, H335 will be your friend with a Rem 7 1/2 primer using tough brass, old Lake City, old Lapua Gold Box, Or IMI. Stand on the throttle for best accuracy. Current Lapua, Rem, and Win will give great accuracy, you just do not get 100 firings on the cases, toss them as soon as you feel a loose primer seating with a hand primer!!!!
